The Veterans Who Become Novelists
Elliot Ackerman reflects on Karl Marlantes, war literature, memory, and the enduring relationship between storytelling and combat.
Essays
Met Gala 2026: Fashion, Style, and Celebrity Spectacle
In this humorous review of the 2026 Met Gala, Elliot Ackerman and Suzy Weiss examine the night's most memorable looks, from Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Kylie Jenner to Colman Domingo,...
Inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
When gunshots rang out near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Elliot Ackerman and his wife took cover beneath their table. What followed revealed just how exposed thousands of attendees had...
Is Trump Asking Troops to Commit War Crimes?
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer in Iraq, Elliot Ackerman explores whether threats to target civilian infrastructure in Iran could force service members to confront difficult legal and...
The Case Against the War
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer in Iraq, Elliot Ackerman examines the risks of regime change in Iran, the limits of military power, and the political consequences that...
Watching Future War Unfold
Elliot Ackerman examines Iran, future conflict, authoritarian alliances, and the geopolitical realities explored in 2034.
The ICE Shooter's Trauma Is No Defense
Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Elliot Ackerman examines the legal standard of objective reasonableness and argues that an officer's past trauma cannot redefine the rules governing the use...
A Man Should Know: How to Speak from the Heart
In the final installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman shares lessons on public speaking, storytelling, rehearsal, and why the most memorable remarks come from speaking honestly and from...
Trump Is Risking Another Forever War
In this Free Press essay, Elliot Ackerman reflects on the U.S. operation against Nicolás Maduro and warns that military success is often the easy part. Drawing on his experiences in...
A Man Should Know: How to Read
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman reflects on his journey as a reader, the value of classic books, and why the most meaningful reading experiences often...
A Man Should Know: How to Wear a Tuxedo
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman shares the lessons he learned about wearing a tuxedo, from bow ties and cuff links to the importance of dressing...
A Man Should Know: How to Host
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman explores the art of hospitality, from hosting dinners and choosing venues to creating meaningful experiences that make guests feel welcome.
A Man Should Know: How to Propose
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman explores the art of proposing, arguing that the most important part of a marriage proposal is not the spectacle but...
A Man Should Know: How to Travel
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman offers practical travel advice, from packing and airport etiquette to the more important question of when it is better to...
Hegseth, the Law of War, and Fallujah
Drawing on his experience during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Elliot Ackerman explores the critical distinction between rules of engagement and the law of war. In this Free Press essay,...